Sally and the limpet

I found the best book ever - it features limpets (what i study). How could i resist buying it for my niece!!!

Teaser Tuesday 100608

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

5.3.21.01.002: Once allocated, postcodes are permanent, and for life.

pg. 79



I discovered this book via someone's teaser tuesday and I am glad I added it to my reading list. I really enjoyed it - unfortunately the sequels are not due out for at least some years. :( I tried to buy the first book in another series by this author...but to no avail!! But this book was a lot of fun.

Teaser tuesday 100601

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

"I've heard that before" I tell her. "I'm sure the Congolese heard it every day for a hundred years while they had to forbear the Belgians. Now they finally get a fighting chance, and we're sitting here watching it get born dead...."
pg. 476.



I loved this book - I couldn't put it down. It was one of those books which makes you angry and also makes you rethink how you treat people and the assumptions you make. I highly recommend it!!!

Teaser Tuesday 100518

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I have a bed made of Buttermilk Pancakes by Jaclyn Moriarty

"It's just that we all agreed on this, okay? It's no offence or anything. See we just decided things are kind of different now we're in Year 7, and you have to kind of like make the tough decisions? If you're going to survive. And we think you're not kind of right for survival. okay?"

pg 73 -74



This book is set in Sydney - so a big plus for me there. I love reading this book ..probably the fifth time I have read it. It is quirky, easy to read and funny, everyone should check it out :)

A guest post

Today I am guest posting about my favourite books at A study in contradictions..so go check it out!

Teaser Tuesday 100511

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Two large glasses of decant claret in the middle of the day were not part of the Major's usual schedule. He had to admit that they imparted a rosy air to a luncheon that would otherwise have been stilted.

pg. 192

This book was quite enjoyable, easy to read and kind of sweet. It was good to be reminded of somethings. This book was also recommended for those who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Teaser tuesday 100504 and reflections

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The piper's son by Melina Marchetta

If you think I've forgotten anything about that night, you, most gorgeous girl, are labouring under a great misapprehension. I remember everything. I remember your petticoat...slip..whatever the hell it's called, and you let me take it off. You made me close my eyes and that was even more of a turn-on.

pg. 309.



I absolutely loved this book!!! The whole book is infused with a sadness. At first I was a bit nervous to read it as I really love most of M. Marchetta's books but once I started it was just great - just like her other books. So easy to read, so moving. I think "On the jellicoe road" is still my favourite though - but that is partly because it improves on reading. This book is ones of those you stay up late cause you don't want to put it down.

I also love how it is set in Sydney, though not in the supurbs/area where I live but I have visited this area many a time. It lends the book a kind of familarity, makes it easier to relate to. This book is maybe for an older age bracket then that which presides it (Saving Francessca - i also really like this book)and it is filled with characters my age.

The story rings so true. Though I have never experienced a level of grief or guilt like those in the book - how they react and deal with things feels true. I cried a lot during this book. Even on the bus when surrounded by a bunch of strangers.

This book is definently worth a return visit :)

postscript - i just read this and it makes the book sound really sad. but it actually isn't all that sad - there are heaps of parts where you just laugh and smile. It is just a moving experience and you can you read it on more than once level

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mr Rosenblum's List by Natasha Solomons

Sadie had never thought of a house as a living thing before - it was a thing, which one filled with other things, like furniture and books. Yet the walls were painted with limewash so that the stone could breath and at night the house did feel almost alive, with its creaking and the sounds of the stream, trickling, trickling.

pg. 79



So far I am finding the book really sweet. It was recommened to be liked by those who enjoyed "The Guensey Potato Peel and Literary Society" and as I enjoyed that I thought I would give it a try. And again, it is easy to read and an interesting story.

For those who read last week's teaser from Requim for a Wren - I finished that book. I really liked it and the ending was both sad and moving.

The easter show, arrivals in the post and a book review

Since it is sooo noisy at the moment in my building at uni (noisy renovations) I thought I would write a quick post :)

The easter show

On Sunday afternoon me and a few friends went to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. We had so much fun. Firstly we went to the big food dome and spent an hour tasting free samples and looking at the regional food displays! I love the dawn of agriculture one and some of the vegetables were enormous. I ended up buying some feta stuffed olives and marinated feta stuffed peppers - so tasty. We also bought some oysters to eat there - freshly prepared as a special treat.

Then we moved on to the arts and crafts section and looked at all the sewing and food competition entries. I love the sugar art stuff! So amazing. I once tried to do some but failed dismally.

By this time it was after five!!! So some of us went to look at the animals (I wanted to see the woodchopping but it was over). so we looked at the goats (some enormous and a bit scary), the pigs (which my friends adore) and lots of cows (which I like). Then we watched the final of the polo (nsw lost) and ate dinner whilst listening to some live music in this little area before heading home. Overall lots of fun!

Arrivals in the post

In the past week I have recieved two book parcels in the post! Yay! Both of these were birthday gifts from my brother

* Elegance of the hedgehog - i really want to read this book



* Shades of grey - after reading a teaser tuesday of this I thought I would give it a go.



I love the feel of new books - so much excitement and anticipation

Book review of The True Story of Butterfish by Nick Earls


I said I would let everyone know how I found this book so now I am! I said at first that it was hard to get into but it did improve slightly - though not too much. The book went somewhere completely different then where I expected it to go from the blurb and first part of it. And I found it didn't really go too far anywhere - like I got close to the end and I was suprised that I was near the end as it felt like nothing much had happened. Aside from this, the prose of the book was easy to read and not overly descriptive. I am not sure if I would recommened this to other people or try another book by the author but will consider further.

Anyone read anything great recently?

Teaser tuesday 100413

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Requim for a wren by Nevil Shute

There were no civilian boats or yachts afloat upon the south coast at that tume, but the river was full of landing craft, box-like, grey, painted things of steel with ramps to let down at the bow, with diesel engines thumping away inside them to charge batteries as they lay moored bow and stern to the buoys, with white ensigns drooping at the stern, with bored ratings fishing over the side and staring at us as we threaded our way past.

pg 69-70



I love how that sentence paints a picture so nicely. At first I struggled to get into this book but now I am really enjoying it. I have read "A town like Alice" by this author previously and really liked so I thought I would give another one of his a try. It is not the most "exciting" book but it is has a nice flow to it and it is interesting - showing a very different time realistically (or so I believe).

Teaser Tuesday - 100406

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The True Story of Butterfish by Nick Earls

Kate Winter, custodian of the house of slamming doors and duelling stereos, ex-partner of the piano-owning man who was Annaliese's father.

I wanted my privacy.

pg. 31.



I finished reading The time traveller's wife for the second time (which i love!!!) this morning so I have only just started this book. So far it is ok - hopefully it will grow on me a bit more :)

Yesterday I finished reading Too much happiness - which I really enjoyed as it made me think - and the last short story in it (it was not that short though - 60 pages) was really great. It was centred around a women mathematician and novel writer from the late 19th Century. As in - a real person.

But now on to something a bit more light hearted! I am finally round to reading The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger again! Yay!

I really enjoyed this book the first time I read it. Actually the first first time I read it (or part of it) was when I was handed one of those sampler books of the first chapter or so of it...and I thought "this sounds good" but I didn't read it for years later!!



It is so easy to read and a beautiful and very sweet story. Anyway - if you havn't read it I really recommend it :) (And i think it is better than her current book "Her fearful symmetry).

My recent book purchases

As promised..these are the books I purchased on Monday!!!

For Christmas I was given a $100 gift voucher from Angus and Robertson. My purchases were as follows

* THe lovely Bones by Alice Sebold- after so many good comments about this book i thought it was about time I read it :)



* I have a bed made of buttermilk pancakes by Jaclyn Moriarty - I absolutely love this book!! Read it so many times. It has quirky bits, is really easy to read and an interesting fun story.



* Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty - This is a book aimed at a younger audience than the above. Most of the books Jaclyn Moriarty had written are aimed at the young adult market - the most well known being Feeling Sorry for Celia. And again..has quirky bits to it - accroding to the blurb the story is told through the gothic fiction elective of an HSC english exam (HSC is the set of exams you do in your final year of school in NSW, Australia). Looks like fun :)



* I also bought two Manga comics that I had read when in early high school and enjoyed. I was disappointed thouhg because they had reversed the comics so they read like normal engligh novels instead of the back to front nature of manga comics.

As Angus and Robertson did not have Elegance of the Hedgehog I decided to go find it in Borders which is ten times bigger. They had sold out :( :( :( so instead I bought

* The poisonwood bible by Barbara Kingsolver - I bought this as I had really liked The Lacuna and had heard that this book is pretty good too :)



What does everyone think?

Teaser Tuesday - 300310

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

What I Know in Myself is my own Evil. THat is the secret of my comfort.

pg. 23 (Dimensions).



This book is a collection of short stories and the ones I have read so far are quite good. Most of them are easy to read and make you think. The stories are about complex people so that makes them interesting and none of them have the traditional "happy happy" style endings or anything like that. They are actually kind of unsettling in some ways. Definently not a book to read if you need a cheer up.

Off to the bookshop...;

I am off to the bookshop...which always excites me. My grandfather gave me a $100 gift voucher for christmas so I am off to spend that. Have some books already mind including

* Elegance of the hedgehog (or whatever it is called). I wasn't going to buy this book until I read a review and teaser tuesday of it which made it sound pretty good :)

* The lovely bones

* Shades of Grey - read an interesting teaser of it

Does anyone have any suggestions?? Or opinions of the above books (Yay vs nay?)

Tell me fellow bibliophiles!!!!

Lovesong by Alex Miller

I featured Lovesong by Alex Miller on my Teaser Tuesday post this week and i thought I would give a very quick review/opinion of the book.

The book was very easy to read - I finished it in a day - and I just wanted to keep reading it to find out what happened. It is an interesting story which makes you think about the choices we make and how things can go wrong in a relationship. Also about the nature of storytelling. In a way it is quite a concise book - doesn't waffle on for ages - which is good in this age of busyness. I plan on reading more by this author.

Has anyone else read this book? And if so what did you think?

Teaser Tuesday 100316

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

In the Kitchen the stores burn hotter than the stove. Perpetua says Senora Frida went up to San Miguel Regla yesteday, on the excuse that she needed to give some money to the Landeros family for taking Lev in their house.

pg. 179



I am really enjoying this book. It is set partly in Mexico and partly in the US and follow the life of a boy/man from the 1930s. It is written kind of a like a diary but better (and I love when books are written in a quirky manner). :)

Teaser Tuesday - 100302

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The lost life by Steven Carroll

Instead of just undressing in front of each other, which they have never done, they would be bathing together. Bathing is good like that, gives you a reason, she thinks, as she tamps along just a bit behind.

pg. 4



I just started reading this book today and am just about finished it. It is easy to read and quite interesting. This is one of the books my mum gave me for Christmas and is signed by the author :). It is set in 1934 in England and tells the story of two sets of lovers.

My neice and nephew

As I am feeling pretty sick today and was working hard with uni stuff from 8.30 till about an hour ago I am not going to post much today - just some photos me and my boyfriend took in October of Kaia and Bo, my nephew and niece (well technically my boyfriend's...)

Teaser tuesday - 100223

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters

"This cannot hold", said he, and his fishy face fingers grew rigid, as they sometimes did when he became animated. "No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succedded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous! I speak form experience."

pg. 60

I was slightly doubtful of how much I would enjoy this book at first but I have been pleasantly suprised. Once you get into it it isn't too bad at all :)